When the Tenth Royal Hussars were stationed in Potchefstroom in 1913 they were ordered, on the 3rd July 1913 at 7 pm. to train to Krugersdorp, and then on the Johannesburg to police the ensuing miners' strike. They were in the city area until 3rd August but never encountered any violence, as their superiority on horseback seemed to have put off any rioting that the miners had in mind.

Their attitude of policing with good manners rather than strength seems to have been appreciated by the store keepers of the town and it resulted in a great influx of advertizing in the Regimental Gazette.

One such advertisement is pictured below, and clearly from a business set up by an ex- soldier in a welsh Regiment, J H Cranch, being an Athletic Outfitter, and a vendor of Cavalry Swagger Sticks.

Does anybody know anything about J H Cranch?

The report states "They were subjected to every sort of hostile demonstation short of actual violence, and the crowds were most insulting. One woman crowned the lot by her language, but recieved her mead by the following retort from one of the men: 'It's not so much as what you said that I was laughing at, but its your face mum'.

Thank you for an interesting post. The response of the 10th Royal Hussars was certainly an un-South African response to a hostile crowd.

The following year there was a serious rebellion by disaffected Boers, who disapproved of the SA Government's decision to go to war against Germany. This was an internal affair and no Imperial troops were involved in putting it down.

We regret to announce the death of ex-C/Sgt. James Hill Cranch, which occurred at Johannesburg in October Last. Mr Cranch was born in the 41st Regiment, in which his father was serving, 71 years ago. His grandfather also served in the Regiment for 22 and a half years. C/Sgt. Cranch served in the Egyptian Campaign, 1888, in South Africa, in the Boer War, with a Volunteer Company [as PSI] attached to the 1st Battalion. In 1903 he opened a business as a sports outfitter and in the Great War again offered his services and became R.S.M. to the South African Irish Regiment and served in South West Africa. He was in possession of the following medals:- Egyptian Medal and Khedive's Star, Queens South Africa Medal, 1914 - 15 Star, British War, Victory and Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. A photograph of the deceased appeared in our issue of July 1929 [previous post].